Big News. I got married at the end of August at Vineland Estates Winery (Niagara area). We had 49 people join us for our little celebration. We even had a mario brothers themed cake! Originally I had this nieve idea that I could run the 14km chocolate race in st catherines the next day. Eventually I decided it might be nice to visit with friends and family and get a bit more sleep.

Moving. Done and done! Oh thank goodness it's over! The morning after convocation reality was back and the task of moving all my personal possessions from Ottawa to Sudbury (about a 6 hour drive) began. A gigantic thank you goes out to all friends who came out to help in the afternoon heat. Thank you to my mum and dad for carrying boxes when they really shouldn't have (and loading up their respective vechiles to the max). Thank you to Charles, his father George, Danny, Aaron and finally Jason and his brother. Couldn't have do it without you. We managed to fill the 17' U-haul truck, a suv and a toyota corolla - just barely. Thanks to my cousin Kierstan who helped make the u-haul experience less painful than last time - not to mention the "dubblestyne discount." The newer truck with a/c was lovely! The $104 gas fill-up in Mattawa (about 2/3 the way there) sucked though.
It's been almost two weeks since everything got dropped off for me to take care of. Unpacking may just be as horrible as packing but it's almost near its completition. Next goal is to find a roommate (who isn't crazy) to fill the second bedroom.

On June 14th I walked across the stage at Carleton University and received my Bachelor of Engineering! Sure it's a lot of fuss but I think I deserve some moment for fame for the last five sometimes good sometimes brutal years. My mum, dad, Fiona and Charles came out and cheered me on for my triumphant walk (which apparently was a bit on the fast side). Mostly I was thinking something on the lines of "smile....walk....don't trip....shake hands....smile....don't trip....walk more..." After the ceremony I got a great congrats from one of my profs. Then the picture taking began. Too bad my friends and I couldn't be more organized and set a time to take a group photo. Instead I would move about 10ft, see someone, chat it up a bit and then the picture. To wrap up the day - my gang was joined by Charles' parents and my cousin Kiersten at the Greek Souvlaki House for a literal mound of food.

Crazy week.

Today I accomplished mission impossible - I found a dress for graduation. Charles picked up his graduation gown today and its open in the front in the middle about 2-3 inches so it does actually matter what I wear.

Tuesday morning Charles will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science!! Which means I'll basically get a sneak-peak at how my grad is going to go.

Wednesday my parents are coming up from Sudbury. I'm meeting up with a friend before they get into town. It's also my last full day to finish packing and cleaning the apartment. Most of everything is finished. It's just the millions of little things left.

Thursday is my graduation!! I'll receive my Bachelor's of Engineering! Very nice expensive piece of paper. It will also be nice to see all of my school friends together before everyone goes their separate ways.

Friday is moving day. Assuming U-Haul comes through with the truck they promised I hope that everything goes smoothly.

Saturday is moving day part two. Unloading the truck in Sudbury. We figured loading the truck, driving 6 hours and unloading in one day would be too much.

Plans for the future. I've been accepted for a Masters in Physics at Laurentian University for the fall. I think that this is a good step for me. The research directions of the university is in line with my own personal interests. In addition the major experiments are on site in the SNOLAB. I believe I will receive excellent experience from both the theoretical and experimental components. This means that I will be moving to Sudbury for at least 2 years. I will be moving after my convocation on June 15th. I have met with all of the Particle Physics professors at Laurentian during a recent visit to Sudbury. It left me feeling very optimistic: each professor was very easy going, each seemed passionate about their research, and I didn't get a sense of the politics and ego that can sometimes be associated in an academic environment.
So that nagging question I've been getting for the last year "what are you going to do after you graduate?" has been answered - more school.

Exam season is over! It started out with a bang - I handed in my 140 page final report for my 4th year project. I think all the not sleeping or eating thing got to me because wow did I ever get sick. At least it didn't start before the project deadline. They actually isolated me during the exams because all the coughing and such was bothering the other students. I had a proctor periodically check in on me instead of sit with me because no one would volunteer - being afraid of catching the 'plague.' I was determined not to deffer my exams since doing so would push back my convocation which would a) suck and b) make life complicated.

Today I finished my last exam of the semester. And if all goes well - I have finished the last exam at Carleton FOREVER! You think I would be jumping for joy but I don't think it's set in yet. When I get my grades and that very deserved piece of paper that say "you have met all the requirements and you can graduate" or something of the sort - then it will hit me. Done. Done done done.

Officially worst Easter ever! Originally my 4th year project (a.k.a honours thesis) was due on Good Friday until the deptartment figured out it was indeed Good Friday and the school was closed. Ha! So the duedate got pushed back until Easter Monday. Holiday-wise I'm not sure it's that much better, however the school was back open. These extra three days is perhaps the only good thing to happen over the duration of the project and well it was needed. So I spent all weekend (and the last 2 weeks...) working on my project.

Easter Sunday I joined a nice meal of 'Greek on Wheels' because I thought I deserved something more than just cereal. I worked on my project until it was finished at 6:12am!! Charles was a big help, went over the code with me and provided the much needed emotional support. Felt like throwing my laptop off the balconey once or twice.

Monday morning, I scurried around trying to figure out how to print two copies and get them bound. The 24hour staples, who I called several times over the night eventually picked up and quoted 3pm as the time to pick up....humm the project was due at noon. I finally ended up at graphic services at school who didn't have a huge line as I expected (I went there when they opened, the huge line developed while I was waiting, and I was in the front, excellent) and I got it done and handed in by 9:45am. Wahoo! Officially done my project.

Easter Monday afternoon was the silver lining. I spent the afternoon with some extended family that was in town. I have another cousin in town and I never knew it until Sunday. The marvels of facebook I tell you! Yay Kierstan!